The Belgian is keeping Major League Soccer waiting.
Convinced that his level is still up to par with the elite of Italian football, but also influenced by various phone calls with his friends Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne is excited at the idea of living in Italy with his family, like the one known as "Ciro" on Vesuvius did in his time… Last week, Giovani Manna met with the Belgian midfielder's professional entourage to discuss the possibility of a deal and offer him an enticing project: to become the future playmaker of the Partenopei. A project validated by Antonio Conte, but also by Aurelio De Laurentiis, who considers the possibility of recruiting such a player without having to pay a transfer fee as a godsend on the market.
At the time of writing, the Neapolitan sporting director is expected to return with a first draft of the Italian club's salary proposal. In preliminary discussions, the Italian was clear: Napoli will not be able to offer the Belgian the equivalent of his current salary, i.e., twenty million euros gross per year. The proposal could look like this: a total salary package of around seven million euros (the favorable tax system in Italy could bring the gross salary he receives at Man City closer to the net salary he could receive in Serie A), all supplemented by a signing bonus that will have to be agreed between the parties.
Currently, the Neapolitans' plan is to sign a two-year contract, with an optional additional year, which could be the first area of difficult negotiations between the parties. Indeed, we have heard from reliable sources that Kevin De Bruyne's professional entourage would like to secure his future with the equivalent of three full, guaranteed sporting seasons. How this option, desired by the Partenopei management, could be exercised will be key to the successful conclusion of the agreement.
The Belgian midfielder has given the green light, is waiting, and has asked his close friends to begin negotiations now, with the clear goal of settling in before he leaves on vacation. The Belgian wants to resume the season with his new club, to prove, once again, that he remains one of the best midfielders in the world. Kevin De Bruyne wants to settle in quickly, as do Napoli. A call has already been scheduled between Antonio Conte and one of the best midfielders in the history of the Premier League.